MiniDsp SHD Studio
The SHD Studio brings Dirac Live room correction to a remarkably capable digital hub, delivering tight, deep bass, open mid-bass and lively, artifact-free mids and highs in The Hans Beekhuyzen's listening. Its Volumio streamer also matched a far pricier reference front end in that comparison, while flexible DSP and digital I/O make it a compelling external-DAC partner.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
84/100
Features Connectivity
85/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Dirac Live produced tighter, deeper bass, more open mid-bass, excellent tonal texture and preserved liveliness without audible high-frequency filter artifacts.
The built-in Volumio streamer equalled the reviewer's SOtM/Roon reference in sound quality, apart from the room-correction benefits.
Extensive DSP, streaming and AES/EBU, S/PDIF, optical and USB connectivity offer exceptional functionality for the price.
Cons
It lacks Roon Ready compatibility, which the reviewer identified as a desirable improvement.
Volumio is quick and easy to use but relatively basic compared with Roon.
Dirac Live setup requires a USB connection to a computer rather than network configuration.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The SHD Studio was praised for making a dramatic improvement through room correction, with tighter low frequencies, opened-up mid-bass, excellent tonal texture, and preserved liveliness. The reviewer also found the mids and highs free from audible filter artifacts, although there is little direct discussion of fine-detail retrieval.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
93/100
In the reviewer’s systems, the room-correction effect was described as “shockingly good.” Bass became notably tighter and deeper, the mid-lows opened up, and tonal texture remained extremely good without sacrificing liveliness.
Resolution and Detail
78/100
The review reports improved openness in the mid-lows and a clean presentation through the mids and highs. It does not directly assess micro-detail, spatial layering, or low-level resolution in depth.
Digital Performance
92/100
The internal Volumio streamer was found indistinguishable in sound quality from a SOtM sMS-200Ultra Neo used with Roon in the reviewer’s comparison. The SHD Studio was also said to avoid even slight filter-related nasties and to feed the downstream DAC a very high-quality digital signal.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
84/100
The reviewer describes a sturdy metal enclosure in a compact half-width, 1RU studio-oriented format. There is little further commentary on internal construction, component quality, or long-term durability.
Features Connectivity
85/100
The SHD Studio combines USB audio, AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, and optical inputs with four digital outputs on AES/EBU and S/PDIF. Network streaming via Volumio, remote operation, DSP tools, Dirac Live room correction, four stored configurations, and a headphone output make it unusually versatile for a digital-only processor.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly $1,000 including tax, the reviewer considered its performance especially impressive in light of its broad functionality. The SHD Studio was described as doing a “shockingly good job,” combining streamer capability, DSP, Dirac Live correction, and high-quality digital output at its asking price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Digital Signal Processor
- 32-bit Floating point Analog Devices SHARC ADSP21489 / 450MHz Internal sample rate: 96kHz
- Control
- Driverless USB 2.0 control interface for Windows environments A computer is only required for the initial configuration and for USB audio streaming
- Network Audio Streamer
- Quad Core ARM processor, Gb Ethernet, USB 2.0 for external Hard drive Volumio Audiophile player,
- Bidirectional USB Audio
- XMOS asynchronous USB audio up to 192 kHz, USB Audio Class 2 compliant ASIO drivers for Windows Driverless for Mac OS X Bidirectional audio / 2ch playback (PC to SHD), 4ch recording post processing (SHD to PC)
- Digital Audio Inputs
- Digital audio source selectable from IR remote or Front panel, up to 216 kHz sample rate: AES/EBU on Neutrik 3pin female XLR / Isolated with digital audio transformer SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer TOSLINK on Optical connector
- Digital Audio Outputs
- Four channels of digital output. 2 x SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer. 2 x AES-EBU on XLR connector
- Headphone Amplifier Output
- CS43130 Headphone amplifier / Stereo headphone output follows channels 1&2. 6.35mm jack Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.2 dB. Signal-to-noise ratio: 112 dB (32 Ω load, 1 kHz, A-weighted, digital in 0 dB) THD+N: 0.001% (32 Ω, 1 kHz, 65 mW + 65 mW, mid gain) Supported headphone impedance: 16 – 600 Ω
- miniDSP DSP Processing
- Volume, Parametric Equalizer banks, Crossovers, Matrix mixer, Compressor/Limiter, Mute
- Dirac Live Room Correction
- Plug&Play control and configuration from Dirac Live application, full-range stereo processing
- Filter storage
- Up to 4 filter configuration filters stored on unit
- USB port
- USB port type B for audio streaming, real time control and firmware upgrade
- Power supply
- 12V DC external supply, EU/US/AU/UK plug adaptors provided
- Dimensions (H x W x D) mm
- 41.5 x 214.5 x 206 mm / 1RU half size / Optional full rack mount adaptor available
Manufacturer's Description — MiniDsp
miniDSP is proud to introduce the SHD Studio (“Streaming High Definition”) digital audio processor incorporating Dirac Live®, the world’s premier room correction solution. While physically the SHD Studio is the “baby brother” of the full-featured SHD — accomplished by removing the analog I/O connectors and circuitry — internally it packs the same powerful audio processing capabilities.
The miniDSP SHD Studio is a certified Roon Ready network player. Being Roon Ready means that miniDSP uses Roon streaming technology, for an incredible user interface, simple setup, rock-solid daily reliability, and the highest levels of audio performance, without compromise. The quad-core streaming processor in the SHD Studio also runs Volumio, a popular open-source network streamer, providing web-based access to music files from sources as diverse as a USB stick to Internet Radio and Spotify.
The SHD Studio fits right into any digital processing path, with AES/EBU, SPDIF, optical and USB audio inputs, and four output channels on both SPDIF and AES/EBU.
The SHD Studio includes a suite of our powerful but user-friendly DSP audio tuning software - ten-band parametric EQ per channel, crossovers up to 48 dB/octave, compressor/limiter, and a flexible 2x4 matrix mixer. Applications range from subwoofer integration to a two-way active speaker. Outputs 3 and 4 also drive the headphone jack on the front panel for a uniquely flexible digital processing solution.
Hardware Features
- Processor: 32-bit floating-point 450MHz Analog Devices SHARC DSP
- Powered by Dirac Live® 3.x Digital Room Correction
- Quad core ARM processor for network audio streaming - Roon Ready and Volumio
- Inputs: Stereo digital channels (USB Audio/AES-EBU/SPDIF/Optical)
- Outputs: Dual Stereo digital channels (2 x stereo SPDIF RCA outputs and 2 x stereo AES-EBU Balanced XLR) / Headphone amplifier
- USB audio recording feature (4xCH processed output via USB audio to record inputs)
- White/Black OLED front panel controller
Product Downloads / New Device Console
- Product Brief: SHD Power
- SHD Studio User manual
What's in the box?
- SHD Studio processor with embedded Dirac Live 2.0 license
- USB Wifi 2.4GHz adaptor
- Dirac Live v3.x license for full range correction (20Hz~20kHz)
- UMIK-1 calibrated measurement microphone
- IR remote v2
- External universal power supply
SHD Series is ROON READY
The miniDSP SHD Series processors are certified Roon Ready players. This means that they are certified by Roon Labs to work seamlessly with the Roon software running on your PC, Mac, or Linux-based server! You can also use the Roon Remote for Android or iPhone/iPad for full remote control of your music playback with the miniDSP SHD Series.
Powered by Tidal Connect
Got a Tidal account and want to stream directly your favorite tracks from your PC/Phone/Tablet? Thanks to Tidal Connect support on the SHD Series, we provide a plug&play experience for high bitrate and full volume integration.
Powered by miniDSP's Device Console
Using the Surface Dial to control a miniDSP SHD Series processor
Looking for a similar platform with analog audio connectivity?
Check out the SHD platform.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for MiniDsp SHD Studio
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- CHT Solutions — online and in-store — Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Cross Spectrum Acoustics — in-store — East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- Decibel HiFi — online and in-store — Esk, Queensland, Australia (website)
- Deer Creek Audio — online and in-store — Colorado, United States (website)
- Hembio Consult — in-store — Högsbo, Västra Götalands län, Sweden (website)
- Hey Now Hifi — online and in-store — St Kilda, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Igloo Audio — online and in-store — Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Kruunuradio — online and in-store — Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland (website)
and 5 more verified dealers